I wish I had some of these right now

I love making aggressively Jewish food. I didn't really grow up eating it all that much. Our family staples pretty much included pesto pasta, corn tortillas with refried beans and cheese, Chinese food and salad. Now that I'm in control of my own food production, I like to make things that I can pretend my grandmother used to make.

I made these for the first time last Christmas to give away as gifts. I liked them a lot. I'm a sucker for a good cream cheese dough.

Rugelach!

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2-pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
Filling of your choice - I like jam or melted chocolate
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon milk, for egg wash

Add the cheese and butter to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until light. Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the salt, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour and mix until just combined.


If you don't have a stand mixer, you can still beat this together by hand. But it won't be as easy. And you won't have an awesome stand mixer.

Dump the dough out onto a well-floured board and roll it into a ball. Cut the ball in quarters, wrap each piece in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

After it's been chilled, roll it out on a flat surface with some flour. Spread the filling of your choice over it. This is the jam that my sister made in VT.


Cut the whole circle into 12 triangles, like pie wedges.


Starting with the wide edge, roll up each wedge. Arrange the cookies, points tucked under, on a baking sheet(s) lined with parchment paper (or a Sil Pat - don't use tin foil. They will stick like nobody's business). Chill for 30 minutes.


Brush each cookies with egg wash and sprinkle with a little sugar (you can mix in cinnamon as well here). Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.


Yum. I love how flaky the dough is. The cookies (like all cookies) are amazing when they are warm and fresh out of the oven. Maybe I will make you some for the holiday season.